The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-06

CuafBoof OouuioohihE tuo euNhubobo VI
time and insurance, were a. low as
those OF the water carriers, our frelghts
came and went by water. However,
We fully understood how q railway
carrying one or more full train loads
to or from our market, shipped in bulk
over long distances, could well afford
to charge for same lower rates than
on the small parcels gathered by fire.
quent stops from many wsy stations;
the same rule that governs all whole
sale trade applies, as we understand
1t, with equal force to railways, steam.
boats, etc.
AS said by one Of Fog and's great
jurists, "tha. custom, In all branches
OF business, always has been, and is, TO
move, care for, and sell large amount
OF given commodity in one parcel or
In given time. at less price rate per
pound, yard, or ton, than smaller
quantity Of the same commodity dis.
tributed in many smaller parcels, at
different times. The expense OF hand
ling, carrying and storing the smaller
amounts Is much greater pro rata than
that OF the same operations upon the
larger amount in one body; and dis
elimination In favor OF the larger
dealers Els not inequality, but reasona-
BILE equality. By any other construc-
ton the statute would defeat itself
for taking into account the lessened
expense, pro rata, for transporting the
greater amount Of property in a single
body or In Q given time, the carrier
would, by absolute equality Of rates
for all cases, receive a greater prizes
rate for carrying the larger quantity
than the smaller, and there
by make an unjust discrimination
against the person Transporting the
larger quantity Of goods"
since our exchanges charged us
with this duty, we have been in daily
session, learning the views OF every
business interest. In our city and Of
many tradespeople from the country
dealing with Memphis, and we have
not found one single person who be.
lieved that II was to the interest OF
this section OF the country 10 have the
long and short haul clause OF the law
enforced.
No complaint has come to our alton.
ton, although through our daily pa.
pers we have asked every one interest
ed to assist Us In presenting the needs
OF this community to you, OF injury
from non-enforcemen OF the long and
short haul clause, nor has anyone re-
quested 10 be heard against its suspsn-
sion, excepting carriers by water, whose
motive or interest we need not men,
ton. We are informed that about the
9th OF April, ultimo, when 1t was not
known that the long and short haul
rule would be suspended, one OF the
largest carriers by water on the Mis-
sissippi river, advanced their rates to
double their former charge, only to
drop back when the wire advised Of
your action In suspending the law.
This 10 proof conclusive Of the benefit
Of competition.
We submit herewith as exhibits
hereto, and part OF this petition, re-
ports OF various branches of trade
showing the Injurious effect OF this
long and short haul rule on each sepa-
rate interest, to which we ask your
earnest attention, and such represent
atives OF these interests as you may de-
sire are ready to appear before you to
substantiate these statements.
The table Of rates adopted by such
Of the railway lines as were preparing
for compliance with the long and ehort
haul clause prior to it's temporary sus-
pension by your honorable body, sub.
mitted 10 us, show that the enforce.
ment OF that rule, literally, will result
in an advance Of freight rates between
Memphis and Eastern cities Of about
40 per cent without any reduction OF
tho local rates TO way citations in our
vicinity, and Or the reason that here
tofore such way stations have enjoyed
the benefit OF our through competitive
rate. The railways, for the ascertain
ing OF such way station rate, taking the
Memphis rate as a basis, and adding
thereto the local rate from Memphis,
while q strict enforceUent Of the long
and short haul rule, as construed by
many, will gra1e each successive sta
ton reached, up one step higher
than the one last passed, de-
stroy all interior markets and
iasten each locality down by legal
clamps TO its own distance from the
seaboard. Such Unreasonable equal.
ity is inequality" forces each little
territory to live within itself, shuts off
| the interchange of products OF distant
climates and relegates US to the condi-
ton Of ages long past,
We are assured by the evidence we
have taken that the earnings Of nearly,
IL indeed not every, carrier line from
way or local stations are larger than
from through or competitive points,
and Is, In fact, so much larger that a
moments thought Is unnecessary to
determine whether the one shall 20
up or the other come down, and un.
less your honorable body continue the
suspension you have granted such
railway lines will be compelled to nd.
vance their through rates 10 and from
Memphis without advantage TO any
stations. This will throw our frelghts
back ON the water routes and seriously
cripple our entire trade. Should 1t re-
suit in forcing our patrons throughout
adjacent territory to distant cities and
over trunk lines, who seem to clamoi
for this rule Of law, credits established
here will necessarily be broken up
our friends compelled to trade abroad
at whatever disadvantage, and serious
disturbances to every interest in thiI
section result.
II the sales OF cotton should be di
verted from Memphis TO interior point
and shipped from these interior town
to the seaboard cities and mills, thu
rates Of freight would be more thar
the amounts now paid to Memphis
and from Memphis to the seaboarC
cities and mills. In addition to this
the interior points could not pc leibll
attract buyers from all parts Of thu
world as Memphis now does, thereb!
making a difference Of half q cent t
one cent in price, which would com,
out OF the pocket Of the producer.
The trade OF Memphis Is based AM
dependent upon cotton, OF which W,
handle e00,O 900 to 100000 bales annu
ally, being the second cotton marke
OF the Union. This large amount o
cotton Is drawn here by advances o
money TO country merchants ant
planters to raise and gather the crop
. | aud 20 thia tho lar0aai inland markq